The Importance of an Anatomy and Physiology Foundation

Posted on April 17, 2017

Now that you’ve decided to enter the healthcare field, where do you start? Many experts state that taking an anatomy and physiology course is critical for long-term success. Before you decide to move forward and start an online anatomy and physiology course, it’s best to understand why this foundation of knowledge is vital to your medical career. So why is anatomy and physiology important? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding Human Development

It’s helpful to have an intimate knowledge of human development and how the body grows and changes throughout life. Working with children is very different from working with older adults, and a background in anatomy and physiology can help you better understand the individual needs.

Knowing How Systems Interact

Beyond the individual organs and systems, it is also important to understand how the various aspects of the human body work together. The circulatory system, the respiratory system, the lymphatic system, and more all play a part in human health and the interactions can be healthy or unhealthy.

By understanding how the systems interact, you can determine the proper care for each individual patient and their specific symptoms. With a foundation of anatomy and physiology, you will have the building blocks to make the proper decisions and provide accurate and quality care.

Staying Up To Date on Research

Of course, the study of anatomy and physiology is not static. New innovations in science and medicine change our understanding of the human body all the time. Starting with the proper foundation provided by an anatomy and physiology course is a stepping-stone in continuing an education in the medical field.

Once you have an understanding of the basic systems and functions of the human body, staying up to date on new research will be significantly easier. Online courses, taken at your own pace, can give you the tools you need to better understand these concepts.

Developing Precise Skills

Ultimately, your medical career will be reliant on your ability to learn and execute tasks with precision. With a greater understanding of the way the systems of the body interact, a medical professional will be able to successfully determine the problem and conclude a more accurate solution. There is a range of potential career opportunities for someone with a strong background in anatomy and physiology, from clinical work to laboratory research.

Begin an Exciting Career in Healthcare

These fundamental building blocks of medical science will give you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others throughout your career. Beginning your healthcare career can be intimidating but starting with a foundational understanding of anatomy and physiology will broaden your educational and career prospects in a fast-growing field.

Do you want to take anatomy courses online to begin your journey toward a career in medical science? Contact Corexcel to learn what we have to offer.

4 Study Tips to Learn Medical Terminology

Posted on February 14, 2017

Medical Terminology is a key skill for a variety of jobs within the industry. Whether you are interested in medical transcription, billing and coding, medical administration, or clinical roles, knowing the terms will be essential for your success.

There are a variety of ways and tips to learn medical terminology, but taking online courses can give you many added benefits, including the ability to learn in your own way and at your own pace. But how do you ensure that you retain this information? Here are some tips on how to learn medical terminology.

What Are The Best Ways to Study Medical Terminology?

Make flashcards: It’s true, this old-fashioned elementary school method really works. Why? Because the human brain learns by visual cues, looking at the word to recall the definition can help train your brain for memorization. You can purchase medical terminology flashcards, but making them yourself will also help you learn the words and their definitions and retain them for the long term.

Record yourself: Simply speaking and hearing medical terminology out loud can also help you learn. One simple trick is to record yourself saying these medical terms and their definitions. The act of recording them will create aural flashcards. Listening to your recording will help you remember the words when you come across them in your reading.

Make it a game: Medical educators are learning about the benefits of gamification to aid in learning difficult concepts. Games can offer an enjoyable alternative for engaging your brain. These games are most effective when they are developed with task oriented learning in mind and a scoring system to keep track of advancement. Many online medical terminology crash courses offer games an interactive activity to make the learning process more enjoyable for the student. You may also find apps for your smart phone or tablet that can help add gamification to your study program.

Memorize root words: Medical terminology is based on Latin and Greek root words. Understanding the word parts will help you understand complex medical terms. Often knowing part of a word will help you figure out the meaning of the entire word. For instance, knowing that “bronch” is the root for terms related to the respiratory system, makes it easier to understand that “bronchial” or “bronchitis” is also related to the lungs or breathing.

Have you considered learning medical terminology to advance your career? There are many exciting jobs that require medical terminology as a prerequisite.

Begin Learning Medical Terminology Today

Corexcel offers a fully accredited, self-paced online medical terminology course that includes interactive study experiences, audio pronunciations and video animations.

4 Common Online Learning Myths Debunked

Posted on November 19, 2016

The number of students flocking to online learning continues to rise. According to a 2015 study conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group, more than one in four students (28%) take at least one online course. Yet, while it’s growing in popularity, it still falls victim to myths and misconceptions from skeptics.

In order to set the record straight, we’ve taken the time to debunk five of the most common online learning myths.

Myth #1: All online classes are the same.

In the early days, online courses were primarily text. However, today’s online classes include an abundance of interactive features as well as eye-catching graphics, animations and simulations that engage students and enhance learning.

At Corexcel, our Anatomy and Physiology online class incorporates interactive games, self-study tools and animations that bring core concepts to life. The course provides engaging visuals for students that reinforce learning while creating a more interesting online experience.

Myth #2: Employers aren’t in favor of online courses.

Students worry that future employers will overlook them or discount the value of their coursework if they have taken courses online. While it’s at the employer’s discretion, a large number of employers view online learning on a par with traditional classroom courses.

Online learning can be an indicator of self-discipline and self-motivation, both of which are very attractive to employers, especially when the candidate has juggled multiple commitments while continuing their education.

Myth #3: Online courses are easy.

Some believe that taking an online course will be easier than taking a traditional course. However, an online class requires the same rigor and expectations as a traditional class, sometimes more. Remember, education is challenging, regardless of the method of learning.

Students assume that since an online course is more convenient and flexible for their schedules, the course material will be easier to complete. In an online learning environment, the advantage of flexibility is offset by the need for a different set of study skills and greater self-motivation to be successful.

Myth #4: You have to be a tech guru to take online courses.

Yes, online courses require a good portion of time spent on the computer, but you don’t need to have a technology background to succeed.

Over the last few years, platforms for many online classes have significantly improved user interfaces. Online textbooks are engaging and easy to navigate, some with page flip features and self-paced interaction. Others have easily accessible tools like online glossaries and instant study flashcards. FAQ sections are also popular inclusions to ease the online learning experience.

Now You Know

Now that you know the facts, it’s time to consider online learning as an educational option!

Are You a “New School” Leader?

Posted on July 12, 2007

You do not lead by hitting people over the head – that’s assault, not leadership.”
– Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th American President

If you pick up a training or human resource magazine these days, you’re likely to find at least one article about how to work with, maximize, engage and otherwise lead the “Millennials.” Millennials are also known as “Y’s” or the “how to engage generation.” Then there are Generation Xers, the boomers, and the echo boomers. Does paying attention to this really make a difference in how things happen at work each day? Researchers tell us it does. What is very certain is that managing is changing and challenging today. You and your leaders cannot afford to be “old school.”

Old School vs. New School

Management speaker, author and trainer Tim Connor describes the old school leader as a “top down autocrat while giving lip service to bottom up responsibility, decision making, goal setting and problem solving.” Further more, he says that these old school leaders are “often aloof and inaccessible. They believe to win means beating someone else.” He goes on, but you get the picture. Does this sound like someone in your organization and in fact, several people? Your organization could be headed for turnover, low productivity and morale, and poor customer service. Maybe you are already there.

On the flip side, Connor explains that the leader of the future, our “new school” version, listens to employees, customers, and suppliers to create partnerships inside and outside the organization. “They empower people by pushing decision making, authority, accountability, problem solving, goal setting and risk taking down through the organization.” This kind of environment is one that is ripe for growth.

Leading the Diverse Workforce as a New School Manager

With all of the diversity in your workforce, new school leadership creates managers who are trained to focus on what people do (their behavior) rather than their attitudes or personal characteristics. They also must possess critical skills necessary to delegate, evaluate performance, deal with complaints and resolve conflicts in a positive and effective way. They support each team member’s sense of self-respect and dignity. As Connor says, new school leaders “create a strong team approach to projects, programs, objectives and solving problems. They encourage cooperation and open, honest communication. They reward creativity, mistakes that contribute to improvements and honest feedback.”

Benefits of New School Leadership

Whether you have leaders who are new, experienced or aspiring there are many benefits to bringing your leadership into a more forward thinking, culturally and sensitive way of approaching work. The benefits of this new leadership are:

Increased employee retention, morale, and productivity
Improved customer and supplier relationships
Open communication and discovery of issues as a chance for positive change
Being known as a great place to work to improve recruitment
Maximization of talent and resources

Leadership certificate programs are helping organizations turn their supervisors and managers into new school leaders who are creating more positive and productive work environments.

About the Author
Don Bowlby is the President at Corexcel, a company specializing in online continuing education and workforce training. For more information about Corexcel and the training materials they offer, visit www.corexcel.com.

Medical Terminology: Investing in Your Future

Posted on November 3, 2006

Ask anyone that has taken medical terminology and they’ll tell you it is like learning a second language. The method for constructing words is similar and some of the terminology can be confusing. The good news is that there is some logic to how medical terms are constructed and many of the terms will be familiar. If you know the meaning of arthritis or pneumonia, then you already know two medical terms. The use of everyday terms makes medical terminology much easier to learn than a second language.

What do you learn in a Medical Terminology course?

Medical terminology courses teach the basic building blocks of medical terms: prefixes, suffixes and word roots. Regardless of the length or complexity of the term, once you can identify the parts of a term, you can decipher the meaning.

Online Medical Terminology Screenshot

In our classes we teach medical terminology using a unique combination of anatomy and physiology, word building principles, and phonetic “sounds like” pronunciations. Since each term describes a different part of the body, a disease process or condition, you need to understand basic anatomy and learn the terms used to describe the major body parts.

However, it’s not practical to memorize every term. That’s why courses teach you how to break down complex words into parts you know. This process saves time and will save you many trips to the medical dictionary. Once you master the word building principles you’ll be able to decipher any medical term.

What careers do you need Medical Terminology for?

Medical terminology courses are required for many careers in the healthcare or pharmaceutical industries. Depending on your career path, you may need the course as a prerequisite for college admission or it may be a part of your curriculum.

Students who complete a medical terminology find that it gives them a competitive advantage in the workplace. If you’re considering pharmaceutical sales, medical billing, medical transcription, court reporting or healthcare-related customer service then a course in medical terminology is a great place to start.

Learning the terminology can also open up new possibilities. Whether you are looking for a career change and want to improve your current job performance, learning the medical language is a great place to start. New careers many students pursue include:

Medical technologist
Medical transcription
Medical billing and coding
Medical engineering
Surgical assistant
Court reporter
Medical sciences
Physician’s assistant
Clinical research professional
Pharmaceutical sales
Healthcare related customer service

What things should I consider when choosing a Medical Terminology course?

Searching for the right course can be a daunting task, but here are a couple things to consider:

The Type of Course to Take

Choices include instructor-led courses, online courses or a mixture of the two which is considered a blended approach. Typically instructor-led courses are only offered to the public by community colleges or universities. Often location and times can be barriers for people who wish to enroll. Organizations teach courses for their employees but this option assumes you already have a job in a company that provides this kind of benefit. If neither of these options fit your lifestyle an online medical terminology course might be your best option.

Credentials of the Organization Offering the Course

Typically these organizations are accredited and provide both instructor-led and online versions of the course. Accreditation is important because it demonstrates that the organization has taken the time to apply for accreditation and has typically been through a lengthy review process. Accredited organizations submit to frequent site visits from their accrediting bodies to review their educational design processes. These organizations are also required to keep records for a number of years. This is important in case you need a transcript or a duplicate certificate for proof of completion.

Learning medical terminology can be an extremely valuable experience. Mastering word building principles will make the process easier and help you to retain the knowledge for a long time to come. Keep in mind to use a reputable accredited company and pick a course delivery option that’s right for you.

Category: Online Course